Yoke for draft-gears.



G. A. WOODIVIAN.

YOKE FOR DRAFT GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1917.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

a citizen of the United States, residing at- GEORGE a WOOZDMAN, or onioneo, ILLINOIS.

YOKE'FOR DRAFT-GEARS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE A. Wo'oDMAn,

Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yokes for Draft-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This'invention relates in general to railway draft gears and more particularly to an improved yoke therefor.

The object of my invention is the provision in a draft yoke of means for securely fastening the butt of the drawbar thereto ;without the aid of rivets, bolts, keysor analogous parts.

A further object of my invention is the provision in a draft yoke of means insertible through an opening in the bottom member thereof and, prevented from displacement by the drawbar butt to receive pulling stresses from the .drawbar and transfer them directly to the yoke.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as. it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which Figure 1 is alongitudinal section through ayoke according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar section through a por-v tion of the yoke,illustrating the, manner of inserting the locking member;

- ing member, and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 4: is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation partially in section of the yoke;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of thelock- Fig. Tis a detail in section illustrating a slightly different form of 'my invention.

way limited to the Referring to the drawing, 5 and 6 indicate, respectively, the top and bottom members of the yoke which are connected at their'rear ends in any. suitable-manner. In the drawing 1 have illustrated a coredend comprising webs? and Sand integral sides 9. This is illustrative only, my invention being in no particular structure shown. I

At its forward end the topmember 5 is provided with a depending lug 10 providing a shoulder against which the upper shoulder Application filed may 7,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 17, 1918 1917. Serial No. 166,982.

11 of the drawbar butt 12 bears under draft.

The top and bottommembers 5 and 6 are connected adjacent their forward ends by side 'plates13 having inwardly projecting beads 14 preferably extending from the top to the bottom thereof to give additional strength to the side plates. The bottom member 6 is depressed adjacent its forward end providing a retaining or supporting web 15 and the plates 13 are connected by a corresponding retaining or supporting web 16 spaced from the web15 to provide an opening through which the locking block or member 18 is inserted. The retaining web 16 is provided with an upwardly extending lug 17 the upper edge of-which is spaced from the lower edge of the lug 10 a distance equal ti? the depth of the drawbar butt 12.

Theplocking block or member 18 is provided with an upwardly directed lug 19 forming. a shoulder against which theshoulder 20 of the drawbar butt 12 bears under-draft. A downwardly directed lug 21 is provided on the locking block or member 18 to bear against the lug 17 on the retaining web 16 and transfer pulling stresses directly from the locking block or member 18 to the yoke. .Buttresses' 22- strengthen the lug 21; When in locking position the lower stresses to which form a hood at the forward end 'of the yoke to receive the shouldered butt '12 of the coupler or draw bar and the locking block or member 18, which rests upon and is wholly supported bythe floor of the hood formed'by the webs 15 and 16.

The forward end of the locking member 18 is slightly wider than the butt of the drawbar and the side plates 13 are flared from the middle portion thereof downwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The beads 14 on' the side plates 13 are correspondingly thickened near their lower ends and form shoulders 25 against which the forward face of the loclcing member 18 bears at its ends to yoke.

assist in transferring pulling stresses to the yoke.

ing the butt 12 of the drawbar will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing. The locking member 18 being reforced rearwardly in the yoke as shown in Fig. 2. The arcuate end of the locking member 18 is then inserted through the opening between the retaining webs 15 and 16. The body of the locking member follows and is disposed in locking position as indicated in Fig. 1. The butt '12 of the drawbar is then moved forwardly until the upper and lower shoulders thereon engage the lugs 10 and 19. A reversal of the operation permits the withdrawal of the'drawbar butt for replacement or repair when necessary. The locking member 18, when seated on the retaining webs 15 and 16, is permanently held in locking position and can not be withdrawn therefrom to release the butt of the drawbar except in the manner stated. a

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a slightly different form of my invention in which a clip 26 projects forwardly from the lug 19, stren thening the latter and overlying the lug 1 Obviously the lip 26 may comprise a plurality of spaced members to reduce the weight of the locking. member.

It will be noted that no rivets, bolts, keys or analogous parts usually employed in draft yokes are necessary in my improved The annoyance and danger due to loss of nuts or cotter pins and consequent separation of the drawbar butt from the yoke are, therefore, entirely obviated by the use of my invention. The form and arrangement of the various parts of my yoke is such that each partmay be made suiliciently strong to withstand any stresses to which it is liable to be subjected in use.

Consequently failure of the yoke under working conditions is impossible.

I It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from'the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: i

1. A yoke for draft gears, comprising top and bottom members connected at their forward and rear ends, a downwardly directed lug at the forward end of said top member, a locking member having a lug coiiperating -with the lug on said top member to receive stresses from the drawbar butt, a pair of supporting webs integral with said yoke at the forward end thereof and spaced apart to The manner of inserting and withdrawpermit said locking member to be inserted therebetween, said webs providing a support for said locking member in operative position and a lug on the forward supporting web to receive stresses from said locking member and transfer them to said yoke.

2. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members connected at their forward and rear ends, means on said top member to receive pulling stresses from adrawbar butt, a locking member separate from said bottom member and mounted in the lower part of the yoke, means'on said lock- I ing member to receive pulling stresses from the drawbar butt, and a pair of supporting websintegral'with said yoke at the forward end thereof and spaced apart to permit said locking member to be inserted therebetween,

spaced apart, a lug on said top member adapted to engage the upper shoulder of a drawbar butt, and a locking member resting on said webs and having a lug thereon to engage the lower shoulder of the drawbar butt.

1. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members connected at their rear ends, side plates connecting-said members at their forward-ends, a pair of supporting webs integral with said side plates and spaced apart, a lug on said top member adapted to engage the upper shoulder of a drawbar, butt, a locking member restingon said webs and having. a lug thereon to engage the lower shoulder of the drawbar butt, and means to prevent withdrawal of said locking member except through the space between said supporting webs.

5. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members connected at their rear ends, side plates connecting said members at their forward ends, a pair of supporting.

webs integral with said side plates and spaced apart, a lug on said top member adapted to engage the upper shoulder of a drawbar butt, a locking member resting on both of saidwebs and removable-downwardly. therebetween, said. locking member having a lug thereon to engage the lower shoulderof the drawbar butt, and means on web integral with said side plates and spaced apart, a lug on said top member adapted to engage theupper shoulder of a drawbar butt, a locking member resting on said webs and having a lug thereon to engage the lower shoulder of the drawbar butt, means on one of said supporting webs to prevent forward movent of said locking member, and Strengthening beads on the inner forward edges of said side plates.

7. A yoke for-draft gears comprising top and bottom members connected at their forward. and rear ends, means on said top memher to engage the upper shoulder of a drawbar, butt; a locking member having corresponding means to engage the lower shoulder of the drawbar butt, and means integral with said yoke to maintain said locking member 111 operative position, the rear end .of said lockmg' member bemg arcuate in shape and the contiguous forward end of said bottom member being similarly formed.

8. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom'members connected. at their rear ends, side plates integral with said members at their forward ends, a removable locking member, means on said top and locking members .to engage the upper and lower shoulders, respectively, of a drawbar butt, means integral with said yoke to maintain saidlocking member in operative position including spaced webs integral with said side plates, the rear .end of said locking member being arcuate in shape and the contiguous forward end of said bottom member being similarly formed.

9. A. yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members connected at their rear ends, side plates connecting said members at their forward ends, a pair of supporting webs integral with said side plates and spaced apart, a lug on said top member adapted to engage the upper houlder of a drawbar butt,

a locking member resting on said webs and having a lug thereon to engage the lower shoulder of the drawbar butt, means on one of said supporting webs to receive pulling stresses from said locking member, and a lip on said locking member overlying said last-mentioned means.

10. A yoke for draft gears comprising top andbottom members connected at their rear ends, side plates connecting said members at their front ends, said plates being flared outwardly adJacent the bottom member, a

locking member separate from said bottom member, said locking member being wider than the distance between said side plates adjacent said top member, and webs integral with said side plates, spaced apart to permit said locking member to pass downwardly therebetween and adapted to hold said locking member in operative position.

11. In a yoke for draft gears, a locking member consisting of a body portion having its rear end arcuately curved from edge to edge and an upwardly projecting lug at its forward end.

12. In a yoke for draft gears, a locking member consisting of a body portion having upwardly and downwardly projectinglugs at its forward end, the rear end being arouately formed.

13. In a yoke for draft gears, a locking .member consisting of a body portion having and bottom members connected at their rear ends, a'member for lockingthe butt of a drawbar to said yoke, and means integral with said yoke at the bottom thereof to hold said locking member in operative position, said bottom member having an opening therein through which said locking'member is bodily removable. r

16. A keyless yoke having a hooded forward end for receiving a shouldered coupler butt, the floor of the hood having an opening, and a lock insertible into the opening from below and projecting above the floor to engage a shoulder of the coupler butt, said block being wholly supported by said floor when in operative'position.

GEORGE A. WOODMAN.

Witnesses:

ERNEST H. MERCHANT, M. A. KIDDIE. 

